Toy for forming caricatures or the like



`July 22, 1958 H. P. c. KEULs 2,843,970

TOY ROR FORMING CARICATURES 0R THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1953 INVENTOR Q/z/y 26.12%@

ATTORNEY United States Patent Oilice 2,843,970 Patented July 22, 1958 TGY FR FRMING CARCATURES OR THE LIKE Henry P. C. Keuls, Pittstown, N. J., assignor of one-fifth to Samuel Stearman, Washington, D. C.

Application December 7, 1953, Serial No. 396,536

2 Claims. (Cl. 46--16) This invention relates to a toy or amusement device, more particularly to a toy or device designed especially for use in forming figures representing, in caricature or other fashion, the appearance of a human face.

Eorts have heretofore been made to provide toys or amusement devices of the general character abovementioned, wherein individual pieces representing parts of thev face are employed in association with a supporting member or base. One suchprior proposal utilizes a base composed of a iiat piece of material whose contour corresponds in outline to that of the human face, and a4 number of variously shaped hat pieces of material removably placed on the iiat base member to represent the features of the face.

Another proposal is the construction wherein a base member has the general outline of a face and wherein the individual pieces corresponding to the parts of the face are shaped to fit against the proper area of the base. In the device aforementioned, the base member is provided with suitably positioned magnetic bars and the various pieces `representing the parts of the face are formed with or comprise magnetically responsive strips or sections of metal, whereby these pieces may be attracted to and held in desired position on the surface of the base.

Still another prior proposal involves the use of various pieces representing parts of a human face applied to a base of soft penetrable material by means of pins or pegs formed integrally with the pieces representing the parts of the face. One such product has utilized, as the base member of the figure to be formed, a block of relatively soft, cellular or sponge-like material. Another such product has utilized, as such base member, natural objects, more particularly vegetables such as a potato or a carrot.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a toy of the character indicated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device ot this character which will make it possible for a child or other user to create designs of gures, in the form of caricatures or the like, and which will function in a manner serving effectively` to develop the latent talent of the child or other user for the creation of such designs.

It is recognized by psychologists that an important factor in development of artistic abilities or talents of a child resides in the satisfaction derived from displaying the result of ones effort in those directions.

Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to provide, in a toy of this class, an arrangement whereby the individual pieces may be associated with a base or supporting member in such a way that the former will be held in fixed position on, and yet be readily removable from, the base or supporting member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a toy of this class, further characterized by the fact that while the base or supporting member constituting the background surface for the caricature or other figure to be formed may lie in a single plane, a realistic three-dimensional effect will be presented in the completed caricature or other design formed therewith according to the invention.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will more readily appear from the detailed description below and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention, illustrating one facial caricature that may be formed therewith;

Fig. 2 is a view in cross-section taken along line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 to ll, inclusive, are plan views illustrating variously shaped pieces such as ears, nose, lips, mustache and coiffure which may be used in the practice of the invention;

Figs. 12 and 13 are similar views illustrating separate pieces for typical forms of eyes and eyebrows that may be employed; and

Fig. 14 is a view in cross-section, along line 14-14 of Fig. 1l.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the :numeral 10 indicates generally the base member of one form of toy embodying the invention. In the embodiment illustrated, the base member 10 is substantially square in outline. As will be obvious, however, it may be of rectangular, circular, or other geometric outline.

Preferably, the base is made from a plastic rna terial, such as a suitable mixture of polystyrene resin and acrylonitrile.

As will be seen more particularly from Fig. 2 of the drawing, the base 10 comprises a horizontally extending member 12 formed at each of its bounding edges with a downwardly extending flange 14, extending preferably at an angle of to the member 12, the upper or working surface of the base being indicated :at 16.

The base member is preferably provided on its lower surface 15 with spaced parallel ribs 18 extending longi* tudinally of the base and similar ribs 19 extending transversely of the base, these ribs being joined at their ends to the respective transverse and longitudinal peripheral ilanges 14. The ribs 18, 19 are desirably of a slightly lesser height than the flanges 14. All of the ribs and the anges are preferably formed integrally with the member 12. As will be seen, the lianges 14 serve to support the member 12 in spaced relation to the surface of a table or the like upon which the base may be placed. lf desired, the thickness of the flanges 14 may be slightly greater than that of the ribs 18, 19.

By reason of the flanges 14 and the ribs 18, 19, the member 12 will be substantially rigid despite the fact that it may be composed of a material and be of such a thickness that normally would render it somewhat flexible. The lowermost edges of the anges 14 constitute the'supporting surface for the base 10 when rested on a table, desk, easel, or the like, while the anges together with the ribs 18, 19 serve as reinforcements to prevent sagging of the member 12 under the inuence of pressure that may be exerted upon the upper `surface 16 thereof.

If desired, the base may be formed at the corners thereof with walls 20 extending inwardly from the anges 14 to provide pockets for receiving removable rubber or similar inserts 22 serving as feet for the base to prevent marring or other injury to any surface upon which the base may be placed.

When the base is made of a resin plastic of the type abovementioned, it may readily be produced by conventional methods of injection molding.

In speciiic terms, for purposes of illustration herein, the molding dies may be formed so that the member 12 will be of a thickness of approximately 0.07.5 inch, the flanges 14 will be of a height of approximately 0.375

e) inch and of a thickness of approximately 0.088 inch, and the ribs 18, 19 will be of height of approximately 0.25 inch and a thickness of approximately 0.070 inch. lf desired, the flanges 14 and the rios 18, 19 may be formed of slightly tapering cross-sectional thickness, decreasing downwardly from the member 12.

In accordance with the invention, the member 12 is provided with a multiplicity of apertures 30, square in outline, all of equal size, and arranged in parallel longitudinal rows A equally spaced from one another, and in parallel transverse rows B likewise equally spaced from one another, the rows of apertures being arranged so as to be disposed intermediate the flanges 14 and the ribs 1S, 19.

As will be noted from Fig. 2, the apertures 30 extend through the entire thickness of thel member 12.

The form and arrangement of the apertures 30 are, in accordance with the invent-ion, such as to enable any one of them to receive the stem portion of elements 40 designed and constructed to simulate or represent the various parts of a human face.

As will be noted from the drawings, each ofthe elements 40 is formed witha suitably located stem portion 41, preferably circular in cross-section and tapering downwardly from the head portion 42 andterminating in a blunted or semi-spherical lower end 43. Each of the elements is also formed intermediate the'headporu tion 42 and the stem portion 41 thereof with an enlarged portion 44, the lower end of which forms anvannular shoulder 45 extending in a-plane at a right angle to the vertical axis of the stern portion, the distance ofthe shoulder 45 from the lower tip 43 of the stem being less than the height of the flanges 14 formed on the base.

The diameter of the. stem portion-41 at the upper end thereof is such inrelation toI the dimensions of the aperture 30' in the base asto enable these stems to be readily inserted in the apertures under relatively slight manual pressure, and to be rotatable therein, yet held firmly when the annular shoulder 45 is brought into engagement with the upper surface 16-of the base.

The' elements 40, in accordance with the invention, are constructed so that the head-portions thereof will simulate or represent parts or features of a human head or face. Thus, when appropriate ones of such elementsare inserted in proper or desired onesV of the apertures in the base there will be presented to view a caricature or other appearance of a face. The surface of the base visible in the areas exposed between the thus positioned elements serves as the background surface of the completedv caricature.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated one such design that may be formed by utilizing the device of the invention. By means of arelatively small aggregate number of elements 40, several of which are shaped to simulate several different ears, several others shaped to simulate different forms of noses, and similarly for other parts of the human face or head, it becomes possible by interchangeably positioning such elements with the stems 41 thereof in desired ones of the apertures 30 in the base, to form an almost endless variety of caricatures or the like. Moreover, by reason of the rotatability of the stems within any of the apertures, the appearance presented by any such caricature may be readily altered or modified to obtain still other effects in the completed caricature.

In Figs. 3 to 13, inclusive, there are shown illustrative elements in the form of various parts of a human face, that may be employed in actual practice. Thus, Figs. 3 and 4 show several different forms of ears 42a, 42h; Figs. 5 and 6 show several different forms of noses 42C and 42d; Figs. 7 and 8 show two different forms of lips 42e, 42f; Figs. 9 and 11 show several styles of mustaches; Fig. l0 shows one style of coiffure; and Figs. l2 and 13 show several different forms of eyes and eyebrows.

In commercial practice, the device of the invention would be supplied to the user as a set, consisting of`a base 10 together with a predetermined number of elements 40 the head portions 42 of which are formed in simulation of several different forms of eyes, eyebrows, noses, lips, ears, coiffures, etc., so as to enable the user, by proper selection of different ones of these pieces or elements to construct on the base any one of a great variety of caricatures or other facial appearances, depending upon the particular ones of the pieces utilized. By suitably forming the head portions of the elements to simulate the various parts of the face, the device may be employed for creating designs of different types of faces, whether in the form of caricatures or in the form of serious or grotesque designs. By reason of the fact that the axis of the stem portion 41 of each element extends substantially perpendicularly to the general direction of the plane of the head portion thereof, any of the elements may be fixed in position with the visible surface thereof extending generally parallel to the base, and with the lower surface 46'thereof spaced from the member 12.

The cross-sectional dimension of the stem portion 41 of each of the elements is such in relation to the dimension of the apertures 30 as to enable the elements to be firmly held in any of the apertures and yet be rotatable therein by relatively slight manual effort.

When selected'ones of the elements are located in desired onesof the apertures, with the stems 41 positioned therein to cause the shoulders 45 to rest in engagement with the upper surface 16v of the member 12, the portions 42 of the elements impart realistic three-dimensional appearance to the formed caricature or other design. If desired, the enlarged portion 44 of some ofthe elements may be of a greatervertical height than that of others, whereby to enhance or-` accentuate the three-dimensional effect in the caricature or other design formed on the base by the use of such elements.

By reason of the iirmemanner with which the elements 40 may be positioned in the apertures Sti-of the base, the completed carica-ture or other-'design may be retained as long as desired for display or for other purposes, without `alteration thereof.' This is in marked contrast to those prior known devices of this Class wherein the base and the piecesrepresenting the parts ofa Aface are-made to depend, for example, uponmagnetic force to hold-the pieces in place on the base or wherein the pieces are designed to impinge through thesurface of a relatively soft base, such as a mass -of sponge. Moreover, the device of the invention, makes it possible to form different caricatures or designs merely vby' removing the elements from the apertures inwhichthey have been previously inserted and-placing them in -other positions on the base, or associating them with different ones of the elements at hand.V This capability of frequent insertion and removal of the elements 40 in the pre-formed apertures 40 of the vbase without Wearupon or injury to the base is regarded as another important feature and advantage-of the invention, in contrast to prior'known devices of this general class.

Intermsof specific illustration of the relative dimensioning Iof the apertures in theV base and the stem portions of the elements, it maybe stated that when using square apertures as shown, these may measure approximately 0.15 inch along each side of the square, and the apertures may be spaced from one another at distances on centers of approximately 0.35 inch, While the stem portions 41 of the elements may have a diameter of approximately 0.15 inch at the upper end thereof, tapering downwardly to a diameter of approximately 0.11 inch at the lower end thereof, the outside diameter of the enlarged portion 44 being approximately 0.2 inch and the distance from the shoulders 45 to the lower end 43 of the elements being approximately 0.22 inch.

For for-ming caricatures similar to those which might be foundin cartoons, the base 10 may be of white or other relatively light color,- andthe elements 40 may all be black. However, the elementsniay be made of different colors so as to enable different portions of any caricature or other design formed therewith to be of different desired colors.

Although, as above indicated, the elements 40 are preferably formed from a plastic material composed of a mixture of polystyrene and acrylonitrile resin, other relatively rigid materials, such as wood, metal, as for example aluminum, or other plastic material, for example phenolformaldehyde or urea-formaldehyde resin, may be employed. The pigmentation or other coloring may be applied by any convenient means, for example, as a surface coating or lilm of paint -or enamel, or it may be incorporated, particularly in the case of plastic material, by integral inclusion of the coloring matter in the material of which the element is formed, employing any conventional coloring technique.

ln the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated and described, the lower ends 43 of the elements extend downwardly a substantial distance below the surface 15 of the base and into the cells formed between the lianges 14 and ribs 18, 19. Thus, removal of the elements from their iirmly held positions in any of the apertures 30 may be readily etfected simply by exerting slight manual pressure against the lower ends 43 thereof.

While the device shown in the drawings is fully illustrative of the invention and clearly shows a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein. Thus, for example, the base may be of vcurved or other arcuate configuration, or in the form of solid geometric figures, such as pyramidal, tetrahedral, spherical, and the like. Like- Wise, as stated, the base may vary from the geometric outline shown. Thus, for example, it may be of circular, hexagonal, pentagonal or other polygonal outline.

In all such modied embodiments, the apertures 30 may be arranged so as to be spaced from one another in spaced rows intersecting one another at desired angles.

While the square apertures illustrated and described are particularly suitable and are preferably employed in the practice of the invention, circular apertures or apertures having other polygonal outlines may be formed in the base for reception of the stems of the elements. The square apertures are, however, preferred when the stems of the elements are of circular lcross-section, for the reason that they thus facilitate removal of the elements from or rotation thereof in the apertures with relatively slight manual force and yet permit the elements to be held tirmly in place therein when no such force is applied.

`It will be seen that the invention provides a toy which is eminently suitable for arousing, developing and exhibiting the talent or ability on the part of a child or other user in creating caricatures or like designs or iigures, While at the same time atfording amusement, pleasure and relaxation to the user thereof.

It will be evident that various changes and modications in the embodiments of the invention herein described and illustrated, in addition to those already mentioned, may be made Without departing from the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A caricature-forming toy comprising a base, said base comprising a self-supporting board providing a substantially mono-planar surface and having a multiplicity of pre-formed equal-sized apertures of square outline therein at predetermined spaced intervals in a plurality of intersecting rows, and a multiplicity of elements, each 0f said elements comprising an upper portion of irregular outline and cross-sectional contour, the outline and crosssectional contour of certain of said elements diiiering from those of others thereof, said irregular outline and cross-sectional contours of said upper portions simulating parts of a human head, and a stem portion of circular cross-section and having its axis extending at a right angle to said upper portion, the upper end of said stem portion terminating in an annular shoulder of larger diameter than said end of the stem portion, and said stein portion being constructed for selective insertion in any one of said apertures of the base optionally at variable distances relative to one another and for firmly holding the elements in position in any of said apertures, whereby the elements thus positioned will form any one of a variety of facial caricatures.

2. A caricature-forming toy comprising a base, said base comprising a self-supporting board providing a substantially mono-planar surface and having a multiplicity of pre-formed equal-sized apertures of square outline therein at predetermined spaced intervals in a plurality of intersecting rows, and a multiplicity of elements, each of said elements comprising an upper portion of irregular outline and cross-sectional contour, the outline and cross-sectional contour of certain of said elements dilering from those of others thereof, said irregular outline and cross-sectional contours of said upper portions simulating parts of a human head, and a stem portion of circular cross-section and having its axis extending at a right angle to said upper portion, the upper end of said stem portion terminating in an annular shoulder of larger diameter than said end of the stem portion, and said stem portion being constructed for selective insertion in any one of said apertures of the base optionally at variable distances relative to one another and for firmly holding the elements in position in any of said apertures, whereby the elements thus positioned will form any one of a variety of facial caricatures, said base being formed with lianges along its peripheral edges, the height of said flanges being greater than the distance between said shoulder and the lower end of the stem portion.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,439,359 Estes Dec. 19, 1922 1,573,358 Ross Feb. 16, 1926 2,534,550 "Frechtmann Dec. 19, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,703 Great Britain 1911 466,147 Great Britain May 24, 1937 999,876 `France Oct. 10, 195,1 

